Today we’d like to introduce you to Haydee Yanez.
Every artist has a unique story. Can you briefly walk us through yours?
I was born in Tepic, Nayarit but raised in Tijuana. I have always been a creative but solitary kid that took a lot of interest in observing instead of participating. I really enjoy spending time in my own thoughts and playing in solo projects such a painting, drawing or playing with puzzles or memory games. Being a middle child helped me problem solve at a really early age, and that has helped me to become a more independent and disciplined artist.
At a young age, I started to have an interest in the Golden-Aged of Mexican Cinema. Although I live in the border town of Tijuana, the humble neighborhood where I grew up did it have great access to outside influences or even modern ones. So I grew up with a lot of 40’s-60’s Mexican pop culture such as Tin-Tan, Chachita, Chabelo, Cantinflas, la India Maria and more. To this day those icons influence me heavily in my taste in music, films, fashion, and art.
Please tell us about your art.
What I make is vintage Mexican iconography with a modern twist. It all started in 2001 with a class in college called “Geneaologia del Objecto Mexicano,” The Genealogy of the Mexican Object, in this class, we had to dig deep into our roots and transform something old into a new product. So I decided to play with Mexican icons such as Frida Kahlo, El Santo, Diego Rivera, and different Mexican landmarks and transformed them into a memory game. At this time my art was heavily influenced by Japanese animation. So the look that I gave them was very graphic and minimal but easy to read for the consumer.
I really enjoy the process and the end result, so when I started to think for a subject for my Graphic Design thesis in 2002, I went back to the icons and develop teaching materials, such as a coloring book for kindergartners in Tijuana to learn about the different amazing Mexican icons that we have.
All thru this years, the icons have slowly grown in coloring books, wrapping paper, postcards, enamel pins and more but the focus is still the same. That is the loving expansion of representation of Mexican icons thru the eyes of a child as well as the connection that these vintage icons can make in the relationships of different generations in the family as it did with me and my grandfather.
As an artist, how do you define success and what quality or characteristic do you feel is essential to success as an artist?
I think success is subjective and for that matter is different for everybody.
Some measure success by popularity and others by monetary gain but for me personally what defines success is freedom and independence. Those two things I would never take for granted. Not only as an artist but as a person. And eventually, happiness will fall into place.
How or where can people see your work? How can people support your work?
The best way to see and support my art is thru social media, Instagram and Facebook. It’s important for me to be active in both platforms because I have a dual audience. My native Mexicanos are more comfortable using FB and my Latinx community primary communicates thru IG, so it’s important to acknowledge there presence in both platforms because they been very supporting and loyal thru my journey that I share with them.
You can also find me in different pop-up events that I go thru the year either in Barrio Logan or Los Angeles. And of course thru my Etsy shop.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.etsy.com/shop/mexiconsart
- Email: mexiconsart@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mexiconsart/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mexiconsart/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/mexiconsart
Image Credit:
Portrait Picture by Yan Yanez
Coloring book by Alicia Becerra
Getting in touch: SDVoyager is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
